Really enjoyed this book. Loved the characters and the friendships and how the story unfolds. Would recommend this book

My word. The Seaside Girls under Fire is a historical fiction that kept me reading, looking for the bright spots during a very horrible time in the world's history. The story shares glimpses into what life might have been like for this living in England during the horrible bombings.

Many of the characters happen to be in the entertainment business. What a great way to have the characters in different locations. I was able to see that people didn't always have the same experiences. The bombings in London never seemed to stop. The damage and the loss of life broke my heart.

This story did something that many history and text books fail to do. Tracy Baines made it real. Her descriptions made it easy to imagine what was happening during the war. Reading about the horrors of World War Two is bad enough. I never, ever want to experience it.

An enjoyable read but it did have difficultly in part if you were like me and didn’t realise that it was part of a series as they refer to details that you couldn’t relate to. A good story set during WW2 and the fun, dramas and angst that are part of a nation at war. An enjoyable read as it it looks at war from a theatrical point trying to bright light during dark times.

In the latest installment of the Seaside Girls series, Tracy Baines brings September 1940 to life in shocking detail. Jessie Delaney has gotten her big break on the West End stage and is determined to succeed despite the Blitz. Under the guidance of seasoned performer Adele Bailey, Jessie’s star quality and fame grow and test her friendships and relationships in the theater. As for Ginny Thompson, her sick and abusive father has taken a turn for the worse, and she must return to Sheffield, braving the Blitz, his wrath, and the loss of her stage career. With her husband away at war, Frances Randolph continues to keep the Palace Theatre running in Cleethorpes. As all four women live very different lives in relation to the stage and the light of performance during the Blitz, readers follow Baines’ beautiful prose and descriptions of wartime London and the entertainment industry with Jessie, Adele, Ginny, and Frances. Through alternating perspectives, these women all share their stories, troubles, and challenges, and Baines brings the interpersonal relationships and conflicts to life in incredible detail. With the characters and their relationships at the heart of the novel, Baines has continued a fantastic World War II historical fiction series in this latest installment.

This was the fourth book in the series which I didn’t realise at first. Although it hey can technically be read as standalone, I do think that there are certain parts of the story would have made more sense. I will definitely be looking at reading from the beginning.

I thought this was a really interesting read, I love a good historical fiction. I really enjoyed reading about their lives and how Francis was working at the west end and how difficult that was, especially during the blitz.

Cleethorpes, September 1940

The Seaside Girls face a tide of change as the Blitz escalates. Jessie Delaney, a singer, seizes her big break in London's West End, braving the bombings to grasp her chance at stardom. Alone and without her loved ones' guidance, Jessie hopes the experienced Adele Bailey will mentor her. Yet, as fame calls, friendships strain and allegiances split. Ginny Thompson heads back to Sheffield to tend to her ailing, yet tyrannical father. Can she endure his temper and the Blitz to reignite her passion for performing for the troops? In Cleethorpes, Frances Randolph manages the Palace Theatre, pondering if her days in the spotlight have dimmed as her husband serves his nation. Will Jessie's decisions guide her to success, and will Ginny and Frances step back into the limelight?

This was my introduction to this series and the author. I appreciated that the narrative unfolded during World War II, offering insight into the lives of those on the home front. The journey of each girl unfolds, mingling sorrow and setbacks with the joy and solidarity among the women. With thanks to the publisher for an arc in exchange for a review.

Nice WW2 fiction

I enjoyed Seaside Girls Under Fire, however, as it was the 4th book in the series, I think it would have been better to start the series at the beginning. That said, the story is interesting, both from a WW2 aspect as well as the theater aspects. I will definitely be looking for the first books in this series as well as the Dockyard girls series.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

This is the 4th installment of the Seaside Girls. I haven’t read the others, but I’m intrigued and would like to read more of their stories. Jesse is headed to London for the stage, Ginny is headed home to care for her abusive father and Frances is back in Cleethorpes, running the local theater while her husband is serving their country.


I always enjoy stories on the homefront in England during WWII. It was such a scary time, especially with all the bombings in London. Anyway, it focused mostly on their lives and especially Jesse’s naivete in the big city while she was trying to make it on the big stage all the while WWII was raging on. It was intriguing perspective since it was focused on entertainers during this era.


Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @rachelsrandomresources, @netgalley and the author for this ARC

I enjoyed this. It was dramatic and exciting. It had a good mix of theatrical fun and war time angst and I can't wait to read the next in the series.

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

It was lovely to catch up with Frances, Jessie and Ginny once more as they struggle on through the war. With different things going on in each of their lives the girls get parted but the strong bonds of friendship keep them in each other’s lives. There is lots going on in this book making it hard to put it down. How many times I thought oh just one more chapter. If you like this genre then you will love this series

This is the continuing story of three young women who had sung as the Variety Sisters. They are off living their lives taking different directions. Ginny returned home to take care of her father who is abusive and spent any money he could find on drinking.

Frances has married the father of her child and is dealing with her sister-law while running the Palace which her husband’s family owns. I’m going to be honest I connected the most with Frances. She has such a strong character.

While Jessie is off to London’s West End to be a star while dealing with homesickness and the nightly Blitz that was happening. I think I would have gone running home after the first night. There is no way I would have stayed.

Each one of these women’s stories were so well-written. These women are not fighting on the battlefield of WW II but their battles are no less than those that are fighting. World War II took its toll on everyone from those in the middle of the battlefields to those struggling to survive on the home front.

The entire book was simply wonderful and I am certainly going to go back and read the other three so that I can get the full picture of the lives of these amazing women.

It took me a while to get into this book and I think that was partly because I hadn’t read any of the previous books. There were a lot of names at first but gradually it all became clearer. The story followed mainly three of the women, Jessie, Francis and Ginny. The was a brief recap of what had happened before. They are all involved in the entertainment business in one way or another. Jessie is desperate to make a name for herself in the West End but she is quite naive and has a lot of growing up to do. She does have good support in her family and friends. All this is going on while the Blitz is happening and it tells how people managed their lives using this time. This was an engaging read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is part of the Seaside Girls series. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but based on this, I think I would be interested in reading more. This heartwarming historical saga takes the reader to Cleethorpes during WWII. I enjoyed the atmosphere and felt at home there.

I found it nostalgic, but also lively and welcoming. I think that a seaside town is associated with joyful memories, fun and laughter, and that was something I felt in the author's writing. The characters were likeable, and had optimistic attitudes, despite the challenges they faced.

This was a heartwarming read that sparked joy. Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

Although this book is part of a series it would be possible to read this as a standalone novel though there is more context if you have read the whole series.
The previous books have had a couple of titles and this did prove to be a bit confusing but I could follow the storyline.

The Seaside girls have moved on in their lives and in the War. Ruby is still suffering for her past and struggling to get back into her career as an entertainer. Ginny is forced to go back to look after her cruel father - and comes exceedingly close to the effects of the German bombers.
Frances waits for her husband to return to her daughter whilst pregnant with her new child and Jessie goes to the West End to further her career - while worrying about her beau - Harry.
The story can be quite convoluted at times but essentially is well written and researched.
It is a story working together and the friendships that develop between those in the entertainment industry. As its set in WW2 there is the inevitable tragedy and some characters don't make the end of the book sadly. Some show that although painted in a bad light in earlier books they have a heart of gold.

A great read all in all

The Seaside Girls Under Fire by Tracy Baines

Another outing for these three girls , and a great read it is .
I loved catching up on their lives , still ongoing in the war as they try to make the best of it.
Tracy Baines is a great author in bringing this era to life

This book by Tracy Baines is a continuation of the series about 3 girls who sang together in a trio. There lives have taken a different path with each of the girls having there own problems. Dispite there different paths, they do come together at times, but each of there stories is interesting to read and left me wanting to know more.

I really hope there is more to come, this is book 4 of 4, could be read as a stand alone, but I prefer to read them all
Thank you NetGalley

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

this is book 4 in the series and man do i wish i had read the other books in this series as the characters are so loveable well apart from the nasty ones, i was really routing for jessie

jessie delaney is off to london, she has her big break in a west end show... she is starting off small but it could lead to other things.... she also has plans... after years of struggling she wants to make sure that when she makes it big she can get that house for her mom and let her have the life she deserves ... but first she must put in the work

its whiles she performing in the show that she meets adele bailey another seasoned performer..... but there is a side to her that she doesnt show jessie and that maybe the undoing of jessie.... though thats a lesson for jessie to learn

the other two characters ginny and francis each have their own dramas to deal with and its enough with the war to keep everyone together

this i have to admit was very enjoyable to read .. i just wish i had read the other 3 books in this series but its can be read as a stand alone as there are plenty of places where the author lets you know whats happened in the past....

will be keeping an eye out for more from this author and these loveable characters..

This was a brilliant read in the series of the Varitey Girls .This story is all about Jessie Delaney who goes to London chasing her dreams to be on a London stage where Adele makes friends with her. Lots happens to Jessie as she tries to live her dream . Frances is expecting her second child and trying to look after the Palace theatre for her husband who is away at war and care for his sister.Ginny has to go back to Sheffield to look after her sick father.Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood.

The Seaside Girls Under Fire by Tracy Baines is the continuing story of three young women who had sung as a trio but now were living their lives in different directions. Ginny, who had returned home to care for her aging father; Frances who had married the father of her daughter and was managing a home and her ill sister-in-law; and Jessie, who was off the London to become a star. These were the Variety Sisters. Each with a truly different personality as well as a different story. All were poignant and well-written. All were heart-breaking in their own way. It is a story of Word War II in England, of those not fighting the war in the battlefields, but each fighting in their own way.

Ginny arrived home from performing with ENSA to find the house full of mold and garbage. Her father had no idea how to care for himself, and no desire to learn. Her aunt, his sister, was trying to help, but she had a family to care for, too. Ginny put her head down and got to work. Soon the place was livable again, but there was no money coming in and her savings was being eaten alive. Any money her father came across, he spent on drink. He was no longer able to work, so he sat in his chair most of the time. Frances and her new husband, Johnny, had been separated when he went tot he US to perform. He promised to send a ticket but it never came. As it turns out his mother and his sister had withheld his mail. He didn’t even know about his child until her returned home. Jessie was destined to be a star and she proved it during her first performance. They are terrific characters and each of their plots is real and engaging. They do come together now and them, but their lives have taken different paths. It was a joy to read this book, about these courageous young women who set out on their own at a time when women didn’t do that!
Terrific read!

I ws invited to read The Seaside Girls Under Fire by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalleu #BoldwoodBooks #TracyBaines #The SeasideGirlsUnderFire